State messages in Configuration Manager

State messages contain concise information about conditions on the Configuration Manager client. The state messaging system is used by specific components of Configuration Manager, such as software updates and configuration settings. Configuration Manager clients send state messages to fallback status point or management point site systems to report the current state of operations. You can […]

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Deconstructing the Quest Resource Processing configuration file (vmover.ini)

For anyone that has worked with the Quest Migration Manager to perform Microsoft Active Directory Domain migrations, you find that one of the most critical components is the Resource Processing tasks. In a migration, one has the original environment (Source) and the destination environment (target). A migration consists of moving source users, groups, workstations, servers, […]

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How to use SCCM dynamic queries in your deployment collections

In this post we will be looking at using SCCM dynamic queries to populate collections in our deployments. As a SCCM administrator, you most likely had to plan out mass deployments to all your servers or workstations or even both. How did you go ahead and populate your collections? Queries? Since the introduction of SCCM 2012, […]

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How to trigger a custom SCCM toast notification

You can use the following command syntax to trigger a custom SCCM toast notification on a SCCM client. Syntax: “<CCM client path>\SCToastNotification.exe” “<Title Text>” “<Description Text>” Example: “C:\Windows\CCM\SCToastNotification.exe” “Software Change Required” “A system update is being installed. Please do not shut down until the process is completed.”

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SCCM Package Success, Reboot and Retry Return Codes

Overview This post describes the return codes that SCCM understands for Package and Program deployments and shows which codes are classed success, reboot, or retry. The meaning of return codes for Packages and Programs is defined in the SCCM site control file. Codes are assigned into three categories: Success Return Codes – The installation was successful. […]

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Dell Update Package Command Line Reference and Exit Codes

Newer Dell models distribute BIOS update packages using the Dell Update Package (DUP) format. How to update the system BIOS video link: https://players.brightcove.net/6057277730001/9kEtm2zEI_default/index.html?videoId=1691797622627434301 Options The options can be invoked with the / character. Option Name Description Syntax /? Or /h Help Displays command line options and help information. Determines if the update can be applied to the […]

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Using PowerCLI to get the IP address of a VM

Here is a simple but handy PowerCLI one liner which can output the VM name and it’s IP address. Connect-VIServer localhost Get-VM | Select Name, @{N=”IP Address”;E={@($_.guest.IPAddress[0])}} Name                                            IP Address—-                                            ———-ABWEB1v                                         172.16.100.1ABWEB2v                                         172.16.100.2ABWEB3v                                         172.16.100.3ABWEB4v                                         172.16.100.4ABWEB5v                                         172.16.100.5ABWEB6v                                         172.16.100.6ABWEB7v                                         172.16.100.7ABWEB8v                                         172.16.100.8ABWEB9v                                         172.16.100.9ABWEB10v                                        172.16.100.10ABWEB11v                                        172.16.100.11ABAPP1v                                         172.16.101.20ABDOM1v                                         172.16.102.20 Getting a little more complicated here we are getting all the VMs […]

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